Pokemon Go players know that catching a Ditto can be tricky. Unlike other Pokemon, Ditto does not appear visibly on the map. Instead, it disguises itself as other Pokemon species. Once a player catches the disguised Pokemon, there is a chance it will reveal itself to actually be a Ditto.
As someone who has caught over 50 Ditto in Pokemon Go, I want to share my tips and experience to help other players efficiently find and catch this elusive Pokemon.
Table of Contents
Know the Current Disguises
The first step is knowing which Pokemon Ditto is currently able to disguise itself as. The disguise list changes periodically, so stay updated by checking sites like LeeckDuck and r/TheSilphRoad subreddit.
As of January 2024, Ditto’s disguises are:
- Oddish
- Koffing
- Rhyhorn
- Goldeen
- Numel
- Bidoof
- Gothita
- Solosis
- Bergmite
- Stufful
Whenever you encounter any of those Pokemon in the wild, there is a chance it could be a disguised Ditto.
Use Lures and Incense
You can increase Ditto spawn rates by using Lure Modules and Incense. Attach a Lure to a PokeStop to attract more Pokemon to that area for 30 minutes. Use Incense while walking to spawn additional Pokemon around your avatar for 60 minutes.
With more Pokemon spawns comes more chances of finding Ditto in disguise. Combine both items for maximum efficiency.
Leverage Weather Boosts
Partly Cloudy weather will boost Ditto’s spawn rate as a Normal-type Pokemon. If you see any weather-boosted spawns of Ditto’s disguises, they have an increased chance of being Ditto!
Check Known Nest Locations
Some parks and locations are known nests where certain Pokemon spawn more frequently. Search the Silph Road Nest Atlas to see if any nests near you match Ditto’s current disguises.
Migration causes nesting species to change every two weeks, so keep checking for updated nests.
Join Local Raid Groups
Many areas have Facebook, Discord, or Telegram groups dedicated to hosting raids. Join these groups and ask members to call out Ditto sightings when they find his disguises.
Since Ditto spawns are the same for all players, you can rush over to catch the same one!
Use a Catch Assist Device
A Pokemon Go Plus or Gotcha device can automatically catch Pokemon and spin PokeStops for you. This allows you to passively hunt while doing other activities.
Ensure you have enough Poke Balls before activating the device. You don’t want the device to miss catching a Ditto because it ran out!
Maximize Your Catch Rate
Once you encounter a potential Ditto disguise, use techniques to maximize your chance of successfully catching it:
- Use Golden Razz Berries to make the Pokemon easier to catch
- Throw curveball shots to earn catch bonuses
- Time your throw when the colored catch ring is at its smallest diameter for “Excellent” throws
I cannot stress enough the importance of catching every single spawn. Each one has a chance to be the Ditto you need!
Confirming You Caught Ditto
When you successfully catch a disguised Ditto, the Poké Ball animation will show “Oh?” instead of “Gotcha!”. A few seconds later, the caught Pokemon will reveal itself to be Ditto.
At long last, add this rare find to your Pokédex!
Hunting Shiny Ditto
Shiny Ditto is available in Pokemon Go as well. It will disguise itself as the same species as the normal variant.
The odds of finding a Shiny Ditto are estimated to be 1 in 64. Keep catching those disguises and hopefully you’ll encounter its alternate coloration.
The shiny will appear on the catch screen, not on the map. And if you see a shiny version of the disguises, it is guaranteed to NOT be Ditto.
Final Tips
- Use Pinap Berries to double the Ditto Candy earned from each catch. This helps you power up the Ditto or evolve other Pokemon later.
- Ditto encounters often have a higher chance to run away and break out of balls. Just remain patient and keep trying.
- There is no reliable way to determine if a visible spawn is Ditto beforehand. You have to catch it and hope it reveals itself.
Catching Ditto comes down to persistence, luck, and knowledge of its disguises. Follow these tips to efficiently find Ditto spawns while minimizing wasted effort. Let me know once you finally catch this sneaky Pokemon!
